Fast-Drying Fabric and Garment, and Method and System for Producing Them

ABSTRACT

A garment includes: a first garment-region, that is formed of cotton and/or polyester, wherein the first garment-region has a first level of drying capability; and a second garment-region, that is formed of fast-drying yarns that include at least 75% cotton, wherein the second garment-region has a second level of drying capability. The second level of drying capability is greater than the first level of drying capability. A squared-centimeter of the first garment-region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomes dry within T1 seconds; whereas, a squared-centimeter of the second garment-region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomes dry within T2 seconds; wherein N is a pre-defined positive number; wherein T2 is smaller than T1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) of PCTinternational application number PCT/IL2021/051198, having aninternational filing date of Oct. 6, 2021, published as internationalpublication number WO 2022/079709 A1, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety; which claims priority and benefit from US63/090,305, filed on Oct. 12, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention is related to the field of clothing.

BACKGROUND

Clothing articles and clothes are typically formed of textile materialand are worn on the body. Clothes are worn for various purposes, forexample, to keep the human body warm in a cold weather, to protect thehuman body from rough surfaces or insects or plants, to provide ahygienic barrier between the human body and the environment, to protectthe human body from ultraviolet radiation, to cover genitals, for socialreasons or as fashion, or the like.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a garment includes: a first garment-region, that isformed of cotton and/or polyester, wherein the first garment-region hasa first level of drying capability; and a second garment-region, that isformed of fast-drying yarns that include at least 75% cotton, whereinthe second garment-region has a second level of drying capability. Thesecond level of drying capability is greater than the first level ofdrying capability. A squared-centimeter of the first garment-region,being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomes dry within T1seconds; whereas, a squared-centimeter of the second garment-region,being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomes dry within T2seconds; wherein N is a pre-defined positive number; wherein T2 issmaller than T1.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region is formed of fast dryingyarns which comprise a first yarn (Yarn A), a second yarn (Yarn B), anda third yarn (Yarn C). For example, Yarn A is formed of cotton celluloseand a hydrophobic chemical agent, wherein Yarn A is hydrophobic at least25% more relative to cotton cellulose that lacks said hydrophobicchemical agent. For example, Yarn B is a single-thread yarn that isformed of a blend of a first fiber material and a second fiber material;wherein the first fiber material is cotton cellulose that lacks saidhydrophobic chemical agent; wherein the second fiber material isbeechwood cellulose; wherein said blend comprises at least 90% of thefirst fiber material and not more than 10% of the second fiber material.For example, Yarn C is formed of a long-chain synthetic polymercomprising at least 85% of segmented polyurethane; wherein Yarn C iscapable of stretching, upon application of a stretching force thereon,from an original idle length (L) to a stretched length of at least 3times said original idle length (3L).

Some embodiments may provide other and/or additional benefits and/oradvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1A is a schematic illustration of a knitting structure, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of another knitting structure, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of yet another knitting structure,in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of a back-side of a shirt, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a back-side of a pair of pants (orleggings, or tights), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2C is an illustration of a front-side of a pair of underpants (orbriefs), in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2D is an illustration of a side-view of a sock, in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME DEMONSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments include a fast-dry of fast-drying or quick-dry orquick-drying fabric, that is formed of a particular blend of two or moredifferent yarns or yarn-types (or yarns of two or more different types);as well as garments and clothes that are made of such fast-dry orfast-drying fabric; and methods and systems for manufacturing orproducing such fabric and/or such garments and/or articles of clothing.

The Applicants have realized that cotton is a natural material that istypically hydrophilic, and that cotton typically absorbs and retainswater or other liquids (e.g., human sweat). The Applicants have realizedthat it may be beneficial to develop a fabric, that is made from a blendof cotton yarn(s) and other (non-cotton) types of yarn(s), that willhave improved or enhanced or hastened drying properties or fast dryingproperties or quick drying capabilities or rapid drying properties; inorder to shorten the time that it takes for such fabric (and forgarments or clothing articles that are made of such fabric) to drycompletely, or to become at least partially dry, or to become dry in atleast one or more particular garment-regions there, and/or tosignificantly reduce the level of wetness of the entire garment or ofone or more particular garment-regions.

Reference is made to FIG. 1A, which is a schematic illustration of aknitting structure 101, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For demonstrative purpose, knitting structure 101 showsSingle Jersey knitting; however, embodiments of the present inventionmay include or may utilize other and/or additional types of knittingtechniques or knitting structures, for example, Jersey, Single Jersey,Double Jersey, Rib, Pique, Mesh, Miss, Tack, Terry, or a combination oftwo or more knitting techniques or knitting patterns or knittingstructures; and may optionally utilize knitting needle selection of (forexample) 1×1, or 1×2, or 2×1, or the like.

Knitting Structure 101 comprises, for example, three yarns that areknitted together to form the fast-dry fabric or garment. They aredenoted as Yarn A, Yarn B, and Yarn C.

Yarn A is a pre-treated hydrophobic cotton yarn (e.g., with for examplecount of NE 50/1), such as, a yarn of cotton that was pre-treated orpre-modified (e.g., chemically) to become hydrophobic, or to becomewater repellent, or to become non-hydrophilic, or to become lesshydrophilic than natural non-treated cotton molecules, or to become atleast 25% percent more hydrophobic relative to natural non-treatedcotton molecules, or to become at least 50% percent more hydrophobicrelative to natural non-treated cotton molecules, or to become at least25% less hydrophilic relative to natural non-treated cotton molecules,or to become at least 50% less hydrophilic relative to naturalnon-treated cotton molecules. It is noted that Yarn A is still formedexclusively of cotton cellulose (which was treated to becomehydrophobic), and Yarn A does not include any non-natural fiber or anynon-natural yarn or any synthetic yarn or yarn-portions (e.g.,Polyester, or Spandex, or polyether-polyurea copolymer).

In some embodiments, Yarn B is a single yarn that is formed, forexample: from 100% of Modal yarn or Modal material made from beechwoodtree cellulose or beechwood molecules or beechwood cellulose orbeechwood fiber.

In some embodiments, Yarn B is a single yarn that is formed, forexample: from 100% of Tencel yarn or Tencel material made fromeucalyptus tree or eucalyptus fiber or eucalyptus plants or eucalyptuscellulose or eucalyptus molecules.

In some embodiments, Yarn B is a single yarn that is formed from acombination or a blend or a mixture of: (i) P percent of Modal yarn madefrom beechwood tree cellulose or beechwood molecules or beechwoodcellulose or beechwood fiber, and (ii) 100-P percent of Tencel yarn madefrom eucalyptus tree or eucalyptus fiber or eucalyptus plants oreucalyptus cellulose or eucalyptus molecules.

In some embodiments, for example, Yarn B may be a single yarn that isformed by blending together two yarns or two materials or two fiberswhich can be, for example: (i) cotton yarn that is made from cottonmolecules or cotton cellulose, and (ii) Modal yarn that is made frombeechwood tree cellulose or beechwood molecules or beechwood celluloseor beechwood fiber.

In some embodiments, for example, Yarn B may be a single yarn that isformed by blending together two yarns or two materials or two fiberswhich can be, for example: (i) cotton yarn that is made from eucalyptustree or eucalyptus fiber or eucalyptus plants or eucalyptus cellulose oreucalyptus molecules.

In some embodiments, Yarn B may be formed with a blend ratio or mixtureratio of, for example: cotton cellulose 95%, and beechwood/Modalcellulose 5%; or, cotton cellulose 90%, and beechwood/Modal cellulose10%; or, cotton cellulose 92%, and beechwood/Modal cellulose 8%; or,cotton cellulose 97%, and beechwood/Modal cellulose 3%; orbeechwood/Modal cellulose in the range of 1 to 10 percent, and cottoncellulose as the remaining percentage.

In some embodiments, Yarn B may be formed with a blend ratio or mixtureratio of, for example: cotton cellulose 95%, and eucalyptus/Tencelcellulose 5%; or, cotton cellulose 90%, and eucalyptus/Tencel cellulose10%; or, cotton cellulose 92%, and eucalyptus/Tencel cellulose 8%; or,cotton cellulose 97%, and eucalyptus/Tencel cellulose 3%; oreucalyptus/Tencel cellulose in the range of 1 to 10 percent, and cottoncellulose as the remaining percentage.

In some embodiments, Yarn B may be formed with a blend ratio or mixtureratio of, for example: cotton cellulose 95%, and eucalyptus celluloseand beechwood cellulose 5%; or, cotton cellulose 90%, and eucalyptuscellulose and beechwood cellulose 10%; or, cotton cellulose 92%, andeucalyptus cellulose and beechwood cellulose 8%; or, cotton cellulose97%, and eucalyptus cellulose and beechwood cellulose 3%; or eucalyptuscellulose and beechwood cellulose in the range of 1 to 10 percent, andcotton cellulose as the remaining percentage.

In accordance with some embodiments Yarn B is non-treated for dryness oris non-pre-treated for dryness; or is generally hydrophilic; or isgenerally non-hydrophobic; or is non-treated for water repellence. Insome embodiments, Yarn B may have properties of, for example, count ofNE 50/1.

In some embodiments, Yarn B may be formed exclusively of naturalcellulose (such as Modal or beechwood cellulase, and/or Tencel oreucalyptus cellulose, and optionally also cotton cellulose); and Yarn Bdoes not include any non-natural fiber or any non-natural yarn or anysynthetic yarn or yarn-portions (e.g., Polyester, or Spandex, orpolyether-polyurea copolymer). In other embodiments, Yarn B mayoptionally include also a polyester ingredient or a polyether-polyureacopolymer or a synthetic ingredient. In some embodiments, Yarn B may bea single yarn that is formed of a blend of cotton with polyester.

In some embodiments, Yarn B may be a single yarn that is formed of ablend of cotton with polyester and also with Modal or beechwoodcellulose; wherein the Modal or beechwood cellulose is not more than 10percent of the ingredients of Yarn B. In some embodiments, Yarn B may bea single yarn that is formed of a blend of cotton with polyester andalso with Tencel or eucalyptus cellulose; wherein the Tencel oreucalyptus cellulose is not more than 10 percent of the ingredients ofYarn B. In some embodiments, Yarn B may be a single yarn that is formedof a blend of cotton with polyester and also with Tencel or eucalyptuscellulose and also with Modal or beechwood cellulose; wherein the Tenceland Modal, or wherein the eucalyptus cellulose and the beechwoodcellhouse, together, are not more than 10 percent of the ingredients ofYarn B.

Yarn C is formed of Spandex, or polyether-polyurea copolymer, orpolyurethane, or Lycra, or Elastane; or yarn formed of a long-chainsynthetic polymer comprising at least 85% of segmented polyurethane.Yarn C is a synthetic, non-natural, high-elasticity yarn orhigh-stretchability yarn or high stretch capability yarn, able tostretch or to elongate by at least 3 or 5 times (relative to its idlesize) without breaking upon application of a stretching force. Yarn Cmay have thickness of, for example, 10 or 15 or 20 or 25 or 30 denier.In some embodiments, Yarn C may be formed of Nylon, or polyester, orother synthetic material.

The arrangement of Yarn A, Yarn B and Yarn C is, for example, asdemonstrated in knitting structure 101. For example, Yarn B and Yarn Care looped together through or around Yarn A, as shown. For example, 50%of the total number of yarn feeders of a knitting machine are fed withYarn A; and the remaining 50% of the total number of yarn feeders of theknitting machine are fed with Yarn B and Yarn C.

In a demonstrative experiment, a fabric was knitted from the materialsdescribed above and based on the knitting structure described above. Theresulting fabric is a fast-dry fabric or a quick-dry fabric, or arapidly-drying fabric; or a fabric with accelerated drying properties.For example, in a drying rate time test that was conducted by theApplicants, this fabric has reached 90% of dryness within 45 minutes;compared to 43% of dryness that was achieved within 45 minutes by aconventional cotton fabric.

Reference is made to FIG. 1B, which is a schematic illustration of aknitting structure 102, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For demonstrative purpose, knitting structure 102 showsSingle Jersey knitting; however, embodiments of the present inventionmay include or may utilize other and/or additional types of knittingtechniques or knitting structures, for example, Jersey, Single Jersey,Double Jersey, Rib, Pique, Mesh, Miss, Tack, Terry, or a combination oftwo or more knitting techniques or knitting patterns or knittingstructures; and may optionally utilize knitting needle selection of (forexample) 1×1, or 1×2, or 2×1, or the like.

Knitting Structure 102 comprises, for example, three yarns that areknitted together to form the fast-dry fabric or garment. They aredenoted as Yarn A, Yarn B, and Yarn C. The arrangement of Yarn A, Yarn Band Yarn C is, for example, as demonstrated in knitting structure 102.For example, Yarn A and Yarn C are looped together through or aroundYarn B, as shown. For example, 50% of the total number of yarn feedersof a knitting machine are fed with Yarn B; and the remaining 50% of thetotal number of yarn feeders of the knitting machine are fed with

Yarn A and Yarn C. The resulting fabric is a fast-dry fabric or aquick-dry fabric, or a rapidly-drying fabric; or a fabric withaccelerated drying properties.

Reference is made to FIG. 1C, which is a schematic illustration of aknitting structure 103, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For demonstrative purpose, knitting structure 103 showsSingle Jersey knitting; however, embodiments of the present inventionmay include or may utilize other and/or additional types of knittingtechniques or knitting structures, for example, Jersey, Single Jersey,Double Jersey, Rib, Pique, Mesh, Miss, Tack, Terry, or a combination oftwo or more knitting techniques or knitting patterns or knittingstructures; and may optionally utilize knitting needle selection of (forexample) 1×1, or 1×2, or 2×1, or the like.

Knitting Structure 103 comprises, for example, four yarns that areknitted together to form the fast-dry fabric or garment. They aredenoted as Yarn A, Yarn B, Yarn C1 (which is similar or identical toYarn C described above), and Yarn C2 (which is similar or identical toYarn C described above). The arrangement of Yarn A, Yarn B, Yarn C1 andYarn C2 is, for example, as demonstrated in knitting structure 103. Forexample, Yarn A and Yarn C1 are looped together, through or around YarnB and Yarn C2, as shown. For example, 50% of the total number of yarnfeeders of a knitting machine are fed with Yarn A and Yarn C1; and theremaining 50% of the total number of yarn feeders of the knittingmachine are fed with Yarn B and Yarn C2. The resulting fabric is afast-dry fabric or a quick-dry fabric, or a rapidly-drying fabric; or afabric with accelerated drying properties.

In some embodiments, optionally, knitting structures 101 or 102 or 103may be modified such that Yarn C (or, Yarn C1 and/or Yarn C2) areutilized as laid-in yarn(s) or as inlaid yarn(s) or as inlay yarn(s),that are laid-in (instead of being looped) during the same knittingcycle; optionally using one or more suitable mechanisms or techniquesfor maintaining the position of such laid-in yarn(s), such as, usingtuck stitches, using sinker loops, using underlaps, or the like.

In some embodiments, optionally, yarn A which may be a pre-treatedHydrophobic Cotton yarn, may be fed to 50 or 55 or 60 or 66 or 75 or 80or 85 percent (or, 50 to 75 percent; or, 50 to 85 percent) of thefeeders of the knitting machine; for example, with (or without) aSpandex or synthetic C1 yarn; and the remainder of the feeders of theknitting machine are fed the Hydrophilic non-treatment Yarn B yarns, ormay include the Hydrophilic non-treated Yarn B together with Spandex orother synthetic C2 yarns.

In some embodiments, the knitting may be performed using a circularknitting machine, a seamless knitting machine, a sock knitting machine,a needle selector knitting machine (which allows programmed selection ofneedles via a needle-by-needle control program), or the like.

In some embodiments, optionally, the fabric or the garment may besubject to one or more finishing processes, for example, fixation,steaming, boarding, ironing, dipping in (or mixing with) a chemicalagent, or the like. Such process(es) may be performed prior to coloringor dyeing of the fabric, and/or after coloring or dyeing of the fabric.Such processes may be performed prior to washing of the fabric, and/orafter washing of the fabric.

In some embodiments, optionally, even though Yarn A is originally ahydrophobic yarn, the knitted fabric may be subject to a post-knittingprocess that reduces the hydrophobic properties of the fabric or thatincreases the hydrophilic properties of the fabric. In otherembodiments, optionally, the knitted fabric may be subject to apost-knitting process that increases the hydrophobic properties of thefabric or that reduces the hydrophilic properties of the fabric.Optionally, anti-bacterial agents or materials may be added to thefabric, odor emitting or aroma emitting agents may be added to thefabric, or other types of agents may be added to the fabric.

In some embodiments, an entire garment or an entire article of clothingmay be knitted or formed from the fabric of the present invention. Inother embodiments, the fabric of the present invention may be used onlyin particular region(s) of a garment (e.g., particularly in regions thatcover a body-organ or a body-region that is prone to sweat or that tendsto swear more, such as armpit area, central back area, lower back area,crotch area, sole area); and other fabric(s), such as cotton and/orpolyester, may be used in other region(s) of the same garment. In someembodiments, the fabric of the present invention may be incorporated asa garment-region via one or more techniques or connection mechanisms,for example, via a gluing or bonding or taping mechanism, via stitching,via seamless connection(s), via ultrasonic cutting and/or ultrasonicwelding, or the like.

Reference is made in to FIG. 2A, which is an illustration of a back-sideof a shirt 210, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Thefabric of the present invention is used, for example, under or aroundthe armpits (regions 211 and 212) and/or along the central back (region213) of the human wearer.

Reference is made in to FIG. 2B, which is an illustration of a back-sideof a pair of pants 220 (or leggings, or tights), in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. The fabric of the present invention is used,for example, under or around or behind the knees (regions 221 and 222)and/or along the central back or above the buttocks (region 223) of thehuman wearer.

Reference is made in to FIG. 2C, which is an illustration of afront-side of a pair of underpants 230 (or briefs), in accordance withsome demonstrative embodiments. The fabric of the present invention isused, for example, around or near or in front of the genitalia (region231) of the human wearer.

Reference is made in to FIG. 2D, which is an illustration of a side-viewof a sock 240, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Thefabric of the present invention is used, for example, under or beneathor around the sole area of the foot and/or the arch area (region 243) ofthe foot of the human wearer, and/or around or beneath the toes of thehuman wearer (region 241), and/or around or beneath the heel and/or theankle of the human wearer (region 242).

The above are only demonstrative non-limiting examples; the fabric ofthe present invention may be utilized to form other garments and/orother garment-regions; for example, lingerie items, shapers,under-garments, bras, pajama and sleepwear, sportswear, long-sleeveshirts, short-sleeve shirts, or the like.

In some embodiments, the fast-drying garment or the fast-dryinggarment-region of the present invention, is formed of (and consists of)a single-layer fabric that is knitted as described above, which has asingle unified level of hydrophobicity; and is not formed of two or more(or multiple) fabric layers having different degrees of hydrophobicityor different levels of hydrophobicity; and is not a multiple-layersgarment region that has a first fabric-layer that operates as “roots”and is covered by a second fabric-layer that operates as ‘branches”.

In some embodiments, optionally, Yarn A, or the pre-treated hydrophobiccotton yarn, may be or may include, for example: pre-treated cottonyarn(s) that are known as “TransDRY” cotton from “Cotton Incorporated”(headquartered in Cary, N.C., USA); or pre-treated cotton yarn(s) thatare known as “Charged Cotton” from “Under Armor” (headquartered inBaltimore, Md., USA); cotton yarn(s) that are pre-treated or coated withhydrophobic (water-repellant, water-resistant) coating that is availablefrom “Aculon” (headquartered in San Diego, Calif., USA); cotton yarn(s)that are pre-treated or coated with oleophobic (oil repellant, oilresistant) coating that is available from “Aculon” (headquartered in SanDiego, Calif., USA).

In some embodiments, optionally Yarn A may be or may include, forexample, cotton yarn(s) and/or cotton fibers and/or cotton moleculeand/or cotton cellulose, that was treated with (or coated with, or mixedwith, or dipped in) a hydrophobic agent or that was processed to becomehydrophobic or water repellant or water resistant (e.g., relative tonatural cotton, or relative to non-treated cotton); including, but notlimited to, processes and/or coatings and/or agents and/or material(s)that are disclosed in any one of the following United States patents,which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat.Nos. 9,725,619; 8,486,847; 7,625,149; 8,178,004; 8,236,426; 8,025,974;8,999,438; 7,919,417; 7,906,177; 7,879,403; 7,425,367; 6,756,076;6,607,636.

In some embodiments, for example, Yarn A or the hydrophobic cotton yarnmay be formed of hydrophobic cotton fibers which include awater-repelling fluorochemical; and/or, cotton that was treated by oneor more hydrophobic treatment, such as, application of silicones,fluorochemicals, zirconium compounds, oils, latexes, waxes, crosslinkingresins such as dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU), ureaformaldehyde, ethylene urea, melamine resins, dimethyl urea glyoxal(DMUG), carboxylic acids and polycarboxylic acids including citric,maleic, butane tetra carboxylic, polymaleic acids, and mixtures thereof.In some embodiments, Yarn A may be cotton yarn that was treated by ahydrophobic treatment which comprises application of one or morefluorochemicals, such as a C6 fluoro-carbon based water repellent or aC8 fluoro-carbon based water repellent.

In some embodiments, Yarn A may include cotton that was treated by asuper-hydrophobic surface modification process or by a biomimeticprocedure that prepares super-hydrophobic cotton textiles or fibers oryarns; for example, as described in the publication by by Hoefnagel etal., “Biomimetic Superhydrophobic on Highly Oleophobic Cotton Textiles”(2007) Langmuir, 23, 13158-163), which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety; and which describes methods for creating asuper-hydrophobic (e.g., having a water Contact Angle (CA) greater than155 degrees) cotton textile by introducing silica particles in situ tocotton fibers to generate a dual-scale surface roughness, followed byhydrophobization with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

In some embodiments, Yarn A may include cotton yarns or cotton fiberhaving and hydrophobic and/or oleophobic polymer coating; for example,an aqueous hydrophobic and oleophobic coating composition having acritical micelle concentration and containing a surfactant and ahydrophobic and oleophobic polymer consisting of one monomer; thehydrophobic and oleophobic polymer coating formed on the at least onesurface of the plurality of individual fibers; wherein voids disposedbetween the plurality of individual fibers having the hydrophobic andoleophobic polymer coating on the at least one surface are free of thehydrophobic and oleophobic polymer coating; the surfactant having ahydrophilic head group, a hydrophobic tail group, and a concentrationless than the critical micelle concentration. In some embodiments, thehydrophobic and/or oleophobic polymer coating is formed by the aqueoushydrophobic and oleophobic coating composition being coated on the atleast one surface of the plurality of individual fibers; wherein theaqueous hydrophobic and oleophobic coating composition disposed on theat least one surface of the plurality of individual fibers then beingintroduced with an initiator. In some embodiments, the hydrophobicand/or oleophobic polymer coating is formed by initiating apolymerization reaction on the at least one surface of the plurality ofindividual fibers coated with the aqueous hydrophobic and oleophobiccoating composition. In some embodiments, Yarn A may be prepared via amethod of making a material having a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymercoating on at least one surface thereof, the method including: (a)providing a sheet of material having a first surface and a secondsurface, the first surface and the second surface having a plurality ofindividual fibers, each of the individual fibers having at least onesurface; (b) introducing an aqueous hydrophobic and/or oleophobiccoating composition having a critical micelle concentration, the aqueoushydrophobic and oleophobic coating composition containing a surfactantand a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer consisting of one monomer onthe at least one surface of the plurality of individual fibers to formthe hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer coating, the surfactant having ahydrophilic head group, a hydrophobic tail group and a concentrationless than the critical micelle concentration; (c) introducing aninitiator to the aqueous hydrophobic and oleophobic coating compositiondisposed on the at least one surface of the plurality of individualfibers to form a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer coating on the atleast one surface of the plurality of individual fibers; wherein voidsdisposed between the plurality of individual fibers having thehydrophobic and oleophobic polymer coating on the at least one surfaceare free of the hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer coating. In someembodiments, the hydrophobic agent is at least partly insoluble in waterat a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, thehydrophobic agent is selected from the group consisting of: hydrophobicwaxes, polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, lowmolecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene,oxidized polyethylene, oxidized polypropylene, polyolefin, polyurethane,ethyl vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, co-polymers, and emulsifiablewaxes. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic agent(s) may include thosewhich are at least partly insoluble in water at a temperature of 20degrees Celsius, and which have a melting point or glass transitiontemperature below 100 degrees Celsius, and preferably between about 45degrees Celsius to below 100 degrees Celsius. Such hydrophobic agentsmay include, for example, hydrophobic polymer, copolymers, andcopolymers containing hydrophobic monomers. Some hydrophobic agents mayinclude hydrophobic waxes, such as paraffin waxes; and includingparaffins that are completely liquid at room temperature, e.g.,paraffins having a solidification point below 25 degrees Celsius, and/orparaffins that are solid at room temperature (e.g., a paraffin wax thatis solid at room temperature and can be present in completely liquidform at 100 degrees Celsius). In some embodiments, the hydrophobicagents may be produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers; such as,styrene, acrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters of aliphatic C1 to C18alcohols, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, and methacrylicacid; Poly(meth)acrylates of two or more of these monomers, which mayoptionally contain other monomers in small quantities, may also be used.In some embodiments, the hydrophobic agents may include emulsifiablewaxes, capable of forming wax emulsions; for example, oxidizedpolyethylene, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, and montanic acid andester waxes. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic agents may includepolyolefin waxes, maleic grafted polyolefin waxes, paraffin, otherhydrocarbon waxes and vegetable waxes, such as camauba and candelillia;as well as emulsifiable waxes which may include polyethylene,polypropylene, oxidized polyethylene, oxidized polypropylene, ethyleneacrylic copolymers, and maleic grafted polyolefins.

In some embodiments, Yarn A or the hydrophobic cotton may include, forexample, surface coated with a very thin film of polystyrene using anadmicellar polymerization method; such that the hydrophobic cottonfabric retains air permeability.

In some embodiments, Yarn A or the hydrophobic cotton may include, forexample, a cotton substrate having an admicellar hydrophobic polymercoating thereon, comprising: a cotton substrate comprised of a pluralityof individual fibers, each of the individual fibers having at least onesurface; and an admicellar hydrophobic polymer coating formed on the atleast one surface of the plurality of individual fibers, wherein voidsdisposed between the plurality of individual fiber, having theadmicellar hydrophobic polymer coating on the at least one surface arefree of the admicellar hydrophobic polymer coating. In some embodiments,the admicellar hydrophobic polymer coating is formed by an aqueoushydrophobic coating composition containing a surfactant and a monomer ofa hydrophobic polymer being coated on the at least one surface of theplurality of individual fibers, the aqueous hydrophobic coatingcomposition disposed on the at least one surface of the plurality ofindividual fibers then being introduced with an initiator. In someembodiments, the admicellar hydrophobic polymer coating is formed byinitiating an admicellar polymerization reaction on the at least onesurface of the plurality of individual fibers coated with the aqueoushydrophobic coating composition for a predetermined period of time. Insome embodiments, the surfactant is selected from the group consistingof sodium dodecyl sulfate, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, andcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, the monomer of a hydrophobicpolymer is styrene. In some embodiments, the initiator is sodiumpersulfate. In some embodiments, the initiator is AIBN. In someembodiments, the cotton substrate having the hydrophobic coatingcomposition disposed on the at least one surface of the plurality ofindividual fibers and the initiator introduced thereon, is heated to atemperature of from about 40 degrees Celsius to about 100 degreesCelsius for a predetermined time of from about 30 minutes to about 180minutes. In some embodiments, the substrate having the hydrophobiccoating composition disposed on the at least one surface and theinitiator introduced thereon is heated to a temperature of about 80degrees Celsius for a predetermined time of about 60 minutes. In someembodiments, the cotton substrate has an admicellar hydrophobic polymercoating thereon; the cotton substrate comprising a plurality ofindividual fibers, each of the individual fibers having at least onesurface; and an admicellar hydrophobic polymer coating formed on the atleast one surface of the plurality of individual fibers, wherein voidsdisposed between the plurality of individual fibers having theadmicellar hydrophobic polymer coating on the at least one surface arefree of the admicellar hydrophobic polymer coating, the admicellarhydrophobic polymer coating being formed by an aqueous hydrophobiccoating composition containing a surfactant and a monomer of ahydrophobic polymer being coated on the at least one surface of theplurality of individual fibers, wherein the surfactant is selected fromthe group consisting of sodium dodecyl sulfate, linear alkyl benzenesulfonate and combinations thereof and the monomer of a hydrophobicpolymer is styrene, the aqueous hydrophobic coating composition disposedon the at least one surface of the plurality of individual fibers thenbeing introduced with an initiator to initiate an admicellarpolymerization reaction on the at least one surface of the plurality ofindividual fibers coated with the aqueous hydrophobic coatingcomposition, wherein the initiator is AIBN, the substrate having thehydrophobic coating composition disposed on the at least one surface ofthe plurality of individual fibers and the initiator introduced thereonis heated to a temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius for apredetermined period of about 60 minutes, wherein the substrate havingthe admicellar coating thereon has an air permeability substantially thesame as the air permeability of an uncoated substrate.

In some embodiments, Yarn A or the hydrophobic cotton may include, forexample, cotton prepared by a process for producing hydrophobic cottonfabric, by: (a) bleaching cotton fabric with an optical whitener; (b)affixing the fabric to a conveying machine; (c) applying 7 lbs. of waterresistance chemical solution for each approximately 100 lbs. of fabric,by conveying the fabric through a pad bath; (d) conveying the fabricthrough a tenter frame machine having a heating chamber set toapproximately 340 degrees Fahrenheit, such that the fabric passesthrough the heating chamber at a speed of approximately 17 yards perminute; (e) repeating step (d) a second time, to effect curing of thechemical solution thereby resulting in a water-resistant cotton fabric.

In some embodiments, Yarn A or the hydrophobic cotton may include, forexample, hydrophobic fibers that are chemically treated with an aminopolysiloxane; or hydrophobic fibers that are treated cellulosic fibers,which are treated with one or more of: polysiloxanes, flourinecompounds, silicone compounds, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), waxes,polyurethane emulsions, fats, and fatty acid derivatives.

In some embodiments, a garment comprises: a first garment-region, thatis formed of cotton and/or polyester, wherein the first garment-regionhas a first level of drying capability; a second garment-region, that isformed of fast-drying yarns that comprise at least 75% cotton, whereinthe second garment-region has a second level of drying capability;wherein the second level of drying capability is greater than the firstlevel of drying capability; wherein a squared-centimeter of the firstgarment region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomesdry within T1 seconds; wherein a squared-centimeter of the secondgarment region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomesdry within T2 seconds; wherein N is a pre-defined positive number;wherein T2 is smaller than T1.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region is formed of fast-dryingyarns which comprise a first yarn (Yarn A), a second yarn (Yarn B), anda third yarn (Yarn C); wherein the first yarn, which is Yarn A, isformed of cotton cellulose and a hydrophobic chemical agent, whereinYarn A is hydrophobic at least 25% more relative to cotton cellulosethat lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent; wherein the second yarn,which is Yarn B, is a single-thread yarn that is formed of a blend of afirst fiber material and a second fiber material; wherein the firstfiber material is cotton cellulose that lacks said hydrophobic chemicalagent; wherein the second fiber material is beechwood cellulose and/oreucalyptus cellulose; wherein said blend comprises at least 90% of thefirst fiber material and not more than 10% of the second fiber material;wherein the third yarn, which is Yarn C, is formed of a long-chainsynthetic polymer comprising at least 85% of segmented polyurethane;wherein Yarn C is capable of stretching, upon application of astretching force thereon, from an original idle length (L) to astretched length of at least 3 times said original idle length (3L).

In some embodiments, the second garment-region comprises said fastdrying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loophas Yarn B and Yarn C looped together around Yarn A.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region comprises said fastdrying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loophas Yarn A and Yarn C looped together around Yarn B.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region comprises said fastdrying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loophas: Yarn A and Yarn C, looped together around Yarn B and Yarn C2;wherein Yarn C2 is identical to Yarn C.

In some embodiments, Yarn A is a super-hydrophobic cotton yarn having awater Contact Angle (CA) of at least 155 degrees.

In some embodiments, Yarn A is a super-hydrophobic cotton yarn whichcomprises silica particles and which has dual-scale surface roughness.

In some embodiments, Yarn A is a super-hydrophobic cotton yarn whichcomprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

In some embodiments, Yarn A is hydrophobic at least 50% more relative tocotton cellulose that lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent.

In some embodiments, Yarn A is formed of (i) cotton cellulose and (ii)said hydrophobic chemical agent and also (iii) an oleophobicoil-repellant chemical agent.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region comprises said fastdrying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loophas Yarn B and Yarn C looped together around Yarn A; wherein the secondgarment-region has a total number of yarns; wherein 50 percent of thetotal number of yarns of the second garment-region are Yarn A; wherein50 percent of the total number of yarns of the second garment-region areYarn B and Yarn C.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region comprises said fastdrying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loophas Yarn A and Yarn C looped together around Yarn B; wherein the secondgarment-region has a total number of yarns; wherein 50 percent of thetotal number of yarns of the second garment-region are Yarn B; wherein50 percent of the total number of yarns of the second garment-region areYarn A and Yarn C.

In some embodiments, the second garment-region comprises said fastdrying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loophas: Yarn A and Yarn C, looped together around Yarn B and Yarn C2;wherein Yarn C2 is identical to Yarn C; wherein the secondgarment-region has a total number of yarns; wherein 50 percent of thetotal number of yarns of the second garment-region are Yarn A and YarnC; wherein 50 percent of the total number of yarns of the secondgarment-region are Yarn B and Yarn C2.

In some embodiments, Yarn C and/or Yarn C2 are incorporated into thesecond garment-region as non-knitted inlaid yarns.

In some embodiments, said second garment-region is a single-layerknitted fabric which has a unified level of hydrophobicity across anentirety of said single-layer knitted fabric; wherein said secondgarment-region is not formed of two or more fabric-layers having a rootfabric layer that transports wetness towards one or more branches fabriclayers.

In some embodiments, the garment is a shirt; wherein the secondgarment-region is a region selected from the group consisting of: agarment-region beneath a left-side armpit, a garment-region below aright-side armpit, an elongated garment-region that is a generallyvertical column that starts at a rear side of a collar of the shirt andends at a lower-central region of a back side of the shirt.

In some embodiments, the garment is a garment selected from the groupconsisting of: long pants, leggings, tights, training pants, yoga pants;wherein the second garment-region is a region that covers a rear side ofa knee of a wearer.

In some embodiments, the garment is a garment selected from the groupconsisting of: underwear, briefs; wherein the second garment-region is aregion that covers a crotch area of a wearer.

In some embodiments, the garment is a sock; wherein the secondgarment-region is a region selected from the group consisting of: agarment-region that covers toes of a wearer, a garment-region thatcovers a heel of the wearer, a garment-region that is beneath a footarch of the wearer.

Some embodiments include a method of producing a garment, the methodcomprising: producing a first garment-region, that is formed of cottonand/or polyester, wherein the first garment-region has a first level ofdrying capability; producing a second garment-region, that is formed offast-drying yarns that comprise at least 75% cotton, wherein the secondgarment-region has a second level of drying capability; wherein thesecond level of drying capability is greater than the first level ofdrying capability; wherein a squared-centimeter of the firstgarment-region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomesdry within T1 seconds; wherein a squared-centimeter of the secondgarment-region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomesdry within T2 seconds; wherein N is a pre-defined positive number;wherein T2 is smaller than T1; wherein the second garment-region isformed of fast drying yarns which comprise a first yarn (Yarn A), asecond yarn (Yarn B), and a third yarn (Yarn C); wherein Yarn A isformed of cotton cellulose and a hydrophobic chemical agent, whereinYarn A is hydrophobic at least 25% more relative to cotton cellulosethat lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent; wherein Yarn B is asingle-thread yarn that is formed of a blend of a first fiber materialand a second fiber material; wherein the first fiber material is cottoncellulose that lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent; wherein the secondfiber material is beechwood cellulose and/or eucalyptus cellulose;wherein said blend comprises at least 90% of the first fiber materialand not more than 10% of the second fiber material; wherein Yarn C isformed of a long-chain synthetic polymer comprising at least 85% ofsegmented polyurethane; wherein Yarn C is capable of stretching, uponapplication of a stretching force thereon, from an original idle length(L) to a stretched length of at least 3 times said original idle length(3L).

Some embodiments include a system for producing a garment, the systemcomprising: a knitting machine comprising a hardware processor toexecute code of a knitting program, and to selectively control aplurality of knitting needles to perform a knitting method comprising:producing a first garment-region, that is formed of cotton and/orpolyester, wherein the first garment-region has a first level of dryingcapability; producing a second garment-region, that is formed offast-drying yarns that comprise at least 75% cotton, wherein the secondgarment-region has a second level of drying capability; wherein thesecond level of drying capability is greater than the first level ofdrying capability; wherein a squared-centimeter of the firstgarment-region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomesdry within T1 seconds; wherein a squared-centimeter of the secondgarment-region, being wet by absorbing N milliliters of water, becomesdry within T2 seconds; wherein N is a pre-defined positive number;wherein T2 is smaller than T1; wherein the second garment-region isformed of fast drying yarns which comprise a first yarn (Yarn A), asecond yarn (Yarn B), and a third yarn (Yarn C); wherein Yarn A isformed of cotton cellulose and a hydrophobic chemical agent, whereinYarn A is hydrophobic at least 25% more relative to cotton cellulosethat lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent; wherein Yarn B is asingle-thread yarn that is formed of a blend of a first fiber materialand a second fiber material; wherein the first fiber material is cottoncellulose that lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent; wherein the secondfiber material is beechwood cellulose and/or eucalyptus cellulose;wherein said blend comprises at least 90% of the first fiber materialand not more than 10% of the second fiber material; wherein Yarn C isformed of a long-chain synthetic polymer comprising at least 85% ofsegmented polyurethane; wherein Yarn C is capable of stretching, uponapplication of a stretching force thereon, from an original idle length(L) to a stretched length of at least 3 times said original idle length(3L).

It is noted that the particular values or ranges-of-values, or percentvalues or their ranges, as described above and/or herein, are not merelya design choice; but rather, they are one of several inventive featuresof the present invention, as they may enable to produce and to utilizecotton—which is generally hydrophilic—in a manner that causes suchcotton, due to its adjacent proximity to (or its mixing or blending orco-threading with) the beechwood cellulose and/or the eucalyptuscellulose, to have hydrophobic properties or near-hydrophobic propertiesor reduced-hydrophilic properties, or to become fast-drying orfaster-drying relative to conventional cotton; thereby enabling toproduce garments and clothing articles that are still based, ordominantly based, on cotton and on natural cellulose as their mainingredient(s) yet also provide fast-drying properties orfunctionalities.

Some embodiments of the present invention further comprise or provide afabric, such as a textile fabric or a surface-like fabric sheet, or aroll of fabric or a rollable sheet of fabric, or a fabric that can berolled and/or folded, or a fabric that is provided as a roll having afixed width from which a user can spread and then cut a desired length;wherein such fabric is formed similarly to the second (fast-drying orfaster-drying) garment-region described above; and such fabric byitself, before being incorporated as a second garment-region or as agarment-region, provides the inventive features described above and/orbelow.

Any parameter(s) described above or herein, such as N or T or T1 or T2or the like, may be a suitable positive number that may be pre-definedor pre-selected or pre-configured to achieve particular functionalitiesor features.

In some embodiments, Yarn A may be, for example: a Hydrophobic Modalyarn, or a Hydrophobic Rayon yarn, or a Hydrophobic Viscose yarn, or ahydrophobic yarn that is formed of beech tree cellulose, or ahydrophobic yarn that is formed of bamboo cellulose, or a hydrophobicyarn that is formed of pine tree cellulose, or a hydrophobic yarn thatis formed of a tree cellulose or a plant cellulose that is coated by aHydrophobic agent or by a Hydrophobic material or that was soaked (e.g.,for at least T hours, wherein T is a pre-defined threshold value; suchas 12 or 24 hours) in a Hydrophobic material, or that was otherwisetreated with a Hydrophobic material, or a Tencel yarn or a HydrophobicTencel yarn, or a Hydrophobic polyester yarn, or a Hydrophobic Nylonyarn, or a Hydrophobic Polypropylene yarn, or other HydrophobicSynthetic yarn, or a Hydrophobic semi-synthetic yarn (e.g., that may bebased on plant cellulose yet was treated with a Hydrophobic material),or a Hydrophobic natural yarn; or a water repellent yarn, or a waterrepelling yarn; or a yarn that was pre-treated or pre-coated with awater repellent agent; or a yarn that was pre-soaked in a waterrepellent agent; or a blend or mixture or combination of two or moreyarns from the above-mentioned list of Hydrophobic yarns.

In some embodiments, Yarn B may be, for example: a Hydrophilic yarn, aHydrophilic natural yarn, a Hydrophilic Synthetic yarn, a HydrophilicSemi-Synthetic yarn (e.g., that may be based on plant cellulose yet wastreated with a Hydrophobic material); a Hydrophilic Modal yarn, or aHydrophilic Rayon yarn, or a Hydrophilic Viscose yarn, or a Hydrophilicyarn that is formed of beech tree cellulose, or a Hydrophilic yarn thatis formed of bamboo cellulose, or a Hydrophilic yarn that is formed ofpine tree cellulose, or a Hydrophilic yarn that is formed of a treecellulose or a plant cellulose that is coated by a Hydrophilic agent orby a Hydrophilic material or that was soaked (e.g., for at least Thours, wherein T is a pre-defined threshold value; such as 12 or 24hours) in a Hydrophilic material, or that was otherwise treated with aHydrophilic material; or a Tencel yarn or a Hydrophobic Tencel yarn, ora Hydrophilic polyester yarn, or a Hydrophilic Nylon yarn, or aHydrophilic Polypropylene yarn, or other Hydrophilic Synthetic yarn, ora Hydrophilic semi-synthetic yarn (e.g., that may be based on plantcellulose yet was treated with a Hydrophilic material), or a Hydrophilicnatural yarn; or a blend or mixture or combination of two or more yarnsfrom the above-mentioned list of Hydrophilic yarns.

In some embodiments, optionally, the fabric or garment-region has twosides which may be treated differently, or which may be treated by adifferent treating process. For example, the inner or inwardly-facing orbody-facing or body-touching side of the fabric in a particular garmentregion (e.g., such as, the fabric region that is intended to coverbeneath an armpit, or that is around a collar or neck area), is treatedwith a hydrophobic agent coating or a hydrophobic agent deposition or ahydrophobic agent brushing or a hydrophobic agent soaking or athree-dimensional printing/deposition of a hydrophobic agent or layer orpaste or cream, which solidifies into a flexible fabric-like material(or: coated-fabric material) that is water-repellent or liquid-repellentor sweat-repellent on that side, and reduces or prevents transfer ortransport of sweat or spreading of sweat or dripping of sweat, orformation of sweat stains; whereas, the outer or outwardly-facing sideof the fabric in that particular garment region (e.g., the side that isnot facing the body, and that is not directly touching towards the bodybut rather is facing outwardly away from the body) may lack suchtreatment with water-repellent or liquid-repellent or sweat-repellentmaterial(s), and may instead be formed of a breathable fabric-regionand/or a mesh fabric and/or perforated fabric of knitted yarn(s) thatenables at least some passage of air there-through and thus allows thebody to “breathe” while also being covered with a garment, and thusproviding a dual-side fabric-region or garment-region that on its innerside has water-repellent/sweat-repellent properties, to prevent orreduce the transfer or the transport of sweat; while on its outer sidehas a breathable knitted structure that lacks anywater-repellent/sweat-repellent properties coating or treatment. Inother embodiments, the two sides that are described above are switched,to provide a dual-side fabric-region or garment-region that on its outerside has water-repellent/sweat-repellent properties, while on its innerside has a breathable knitted structure that lacks anywater-repellent/sweat-repellent properties coating or treatment.

In some embodiments, a garment-region (such as, a garment-region that isintended or configured to cover beneath/under/around an armpit of thehuman wearer) is formed of a fabric having two sides: (I) an inner sideor an inwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with a hydrophobicagent or material, or was pre-soaked with a hydrophobic agent ormaterial, or was subject to a deposition or a brushing or athree-dimensional printing of a hydrophobic agent or material; and (II)an outer side or an outwardly-facing side, that was not pre-treated withany hydrophobic agent or material, and that was not pre-soaked with anyhydrophobic agent or material, and that was not subject to anydeposition or brushing or three-dimensional printing of a hydrophobicagent or material, and rather, may optionally be a knitted fabric-regionwith a mesh structure or with a plurality of ventilation perforations orwith other breathable knitted structure.

In some embodiments, a garment-region (such as, a garment-region that isintended or configured to cover beneath/under/around an armpit of thehuman wearer) is formed of a fabric having two sides: (I) an inner sideor an inwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with a hydrophilicagent or material, or was pre-soaked with a hydrophilic agent ormaterial, or was subject to a deposition or a brushing or athree-dimensional printing of a hydrophilic agent or material; and (II)an outer side or an outwardly-facing side, that was not pre-treated withany hydrophilic agent or material, and that was not pre-soaked with anyhydrophilic agent or material, and that was not subject to anydeposition or brushing or three-dimensional printing of a hydrophilicagent or material, and rather, may optionally be a knitted fabric-regionwith a mesh structure or with a plurality of ventilation perforations orwith other breathable knitted structure.

In some embodiments, a garment-region (such as, a garment-region that isintended or configured to cover beneath/under/around an armpit of thehuman wearer) is formed of a fabric having two sides: (I) an inner sideor an inwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with a hydrophilicagent or material, or was pre-soaked with a hydrophilic agent ormaterial, or was subject to a deposition or a brushing or athree-dimensional printing of a hydrophilic agent or material; and (II)an outer side or an outwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with ahydrophobic agent or material, or was pre-soaked with a hydrophobicagent or material, or was subject to a deposition or a brushing or athree-dimensional printing of a hydrophobic agent or material.

In some embodiments, a garment-region (such as, a garment-region that isintended or configured to cover beneath/under/around an armpit of thehuman wearer) is formed of a fabric having two sides: (I) an outer sideor an outwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with a hydrophilicagent or material, or was pre-soaked with a hydrophilic agent ormaterial, or was subject to a deposition or a brushing or athree-dimensional printing of a hydrophilic agent or material; and (II)an inner side or an inwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with ahydrophobic agent or material, or was pre-soaked with a hydrophobicagent or material, or was subject to a deposition or a brushing or athree-dimensional printing of a hydrophobic agent or material.

In some embodiments, a garment-region (such as, a garment-region that isintended or configured to cover beneath/under/around an armpit of thehuman wearer) is formed of a fabric having two sides: (I) an outer sideor an outwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with a material oragent or three-dimensional deposition or cream or paste or solution,that provides water-repellant/sweat-repellent properties to thatparticular fabric-side; and (II) an inner side or an inwardly-facingside, that was not pre-treated with a material or agent orthree-dimensional deposition or cream or paste or solution, and thatdoes not provide water-repellant / sweat-repellent properties to thatparticular fabric-side, and that conversely provides perforations and/orventilation holes and/or a meshed structure that provides breathableproperties to that particular side of that fabric-region orgarment-region.

In some embodiments, a garment-region (such as, a garment-region that isintended or configured to cover beneath/under/around an armpit of thehuman wearer) is formed of a fabric having two sides: (I) an inner sideor an inwardly-facing side, that was pre-treated with a material oragent or three-dimensional deposition or cream or paste or solution,that provides water-repellant/sweat-repellent properties to thatparticular fabric-side; and (II) an outer side or an outwardly-facingside, that was not pre-treated with a material or agent orthree-dimensional deposition or cream or paste or solution, and thatdoes not provide water-repellant/sweat-repellent properties to thatparticular fabric-side, and that conversely provides perforations and/orventilation holes and/or a meshed structure that provides breathableproperties to that particular side of that fabric-region orgarment-region.

It is clarified that the terms “fast-drying” or “slow-drying”, as usedabove and/or herein, particularly in the context of yarn(s) and/orfabric and/or fabric-region and/or garment-region, are not vague terms;but rather they are terms that can be clearly and precisely defined andutilized, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, a“slow-drying” (or: regular drying capability) yarn/fabric/garment-regionmay be defined, in some embodiments, as a yarn/fabric/garment-region inwhich a squared-centimeter thereof, being wet by absorbing N millilitersof water, becomes completely dry within T1 seconds; whereas, a“fast-drying” (or fast-drying capability) yarn/fabric/garment-region maybe defined, in some embodiments, as a yarn/fabric/garment-region inwhich a squared-centimeter thereof, being wet by absorbing N millilitersof water, becomes completely dry within T2 seconds; wherein N is apre-defined positive number; wherein T2 is smaller than T1. In someembodiments, for example, it may be defined or configured that T2 is notmore than 0.75 of T1; or that T2 is not more than 0.66 of T1; or that T2is not more than 0.50 of T1; or that T2 is not more than 0.40 of T1; orthat T2 is not more than 0.33 of T1; or other suitable threshold valuesor ranges-of-values which may be defined or configured. Particularly, insome embodiments, such fast-dry/slow-dry (or: regular-dry) properties,of a particular yarn/fabric/fabric-region/garment-region, may bespecifically configured and obtained; for example, by configuring ormodifying of selecting the amount of hydrophobic (or hydrophilic)material that is applied to a squared-centimeter of thatfabric/fabric-region/garment-region or to a meter of that yarn; and/orby configuring or modifying of selecting the amount of hydrophobic (orhydrophilic) material or solution in which a squared-centimeter of thatfabric/fabric-region/garment-region or to a meter of that yarn aresoaked; by configuring or modifying of selecting the thickness ofhydrophobic (or hydrophilic) material or coating or deposition or pastethat is applied to a squared-centimeter of thatfabric/fabric-region/garment-region or to a meter of that yarn; byconfiguring or modifying of selecting the time-length (e.g., in minutes,or in hours, or in days) a squared-centimeter of thatfabric/fabric-region/garment-region or a meter of that yarn that isallocated for soaking or coating or treating or brushing it with suchhydrophobic (or hydrophilic) material; or by configuring or modifying ofselecting the number of coating layers or deposition layers of the suchhydrophobic (or hydrophilic) material (e.g., one coating layer, or 3coating layers, or 6 coating layers), that are coated upon or brushedupon or deposited upon a squared-centimeter of thatfabric/fabric-region/garment-region or a meter of that yarn suchhydrophobic (or hydrophilic) material; and/or by otherwise configuringor selecting particular properties during the production process inorder to reach particular fast-drying/regular-drying/slow-dryingproperties for a particular yarn/fabric/fabric-region/garment region.

In accordance with some embodiments, (a) said garment-region has (i) aninwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing inwardly towards abody of a wearer, and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended tobe facing outwardly away from the body of the wearer. In accordance withsome embodiments, (b) a first side selected from the group consistingof: the inwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarnsthat are pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with one or morehydrophobic agents. In accordance with some embodiments, (c) a secondside selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facing side,the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophobic agent.

In accordance with some embodiments, (a) said garment-region has (i) aninwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing inwardly towards abody of a wearer, and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended tobe facing outwardly away from the body of the wearer. In someembodiments, a first side selected from the group consisting of: theinwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns thatare pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophilicagents. In some embodiments, a second side selected from the groupconsisting of: the inwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side,lacks any yarns that are pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated withany hydrophilic agent.

In some embodiments, (a) said garment-region has (i) an inwardly-facingside that is intended to be facing inwardly towards a body of a wearer,and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended to be facingoutwardly away from the body of the wearer. In some embodiments, (b) afirst side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophilic agents. In someembodiments, (c) a second side selected from the group consisting of:the inwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarnsthat are pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with one or morehydrophobic agents.

In some embodiments, (a) said garment-region has (i) an inwardly-facingside that is intended to be facing inwardly towards a body of a wearer,and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended to be facingoutwardly away from the body of the wearer. In some embodiments, (b) afirst side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophobic agents, andcomprises a non-perforated knitting structure. In some embodiments, (c)wherein a second side selected from the group consisting of: theinwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarns thatare pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophobic agent,and comprises a perforated knitting structure.

In some embodiments, (a) said garment-region has (i) an inwardly-facingside that is intended to be facing inwardly towards a body of a wearer,and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended to be facingoutwardly away from the body of the wearer. In some embodiments, (b) afirst side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophilic agents, andcomprises a non-perforated knitting structure. In some embodiments, (c)a second side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophilic agent, and comprises aperforated knitting structure.

It is clarified that in accordance with some embodiments, it is possibleand it can be beneficial for a particular garment-region orfabric-region, to have, concurrently and simultaneously, (i) a firstfabric-side/garment-side, that is facing inwardly towards the body ofthe wearer and/or that is intended to be directly touching the body ofthe wearer; and (ii) a second, opposite, fabric-side/garment-side, thatis facing outwardly, away from the body of the wearer and/or that isintended to not be directly touching the body of the wearer; with thefollowing additional characteristics: (A) such that the firstfabric-side/garment-side has hydrophobic properties (or coating, orsoaking, or deposition, or paste, or brushed layer, or agent), while thesecond fabric-side/garment-side lacks any such hydrophobic properties(or coating, or soaking, or deposition, or paste, or brushed layer, oragent); or, (B) such that the first fabric-side/garment-side hashydrophilic properties (or coating, or soaking, or deposition, or paste,or brushed layer, or agent), while the second fabric-side/garment-sidelacks any such hydrophilic properties (or coating, or soaking, ordeposition, or paste, or brushed layer, or agent); or, (C) such that thefirst fabric-side/garment-side has hydrophilic properties (or coating,or soaking, or deposition, or paste, or brushed layer, or agent), whilethe second fabric-side/garment-side has hydrophobic properties (orcoating, or soaking, or deposition, or paste, or brushed layer, oragent); or, (D) such that the first fabric-side/garment-side hashydrophobic properties (or coating, or soaking, or deposition, or paste,or brushed layer, or agent), while the second fabric-side/garment-sidehas hydrophilic properties (or coating, or soaking, or deposition, orpaste, or brushed layer, or agent). In some embodiments, additionally oralternatively to the above: (E) the first fabric-side/garment-side hasperforations or apertures or ventilation holes, while the secondfabric-side/garment-side lacks any such perforations or apertures orventilation holes; or, (F) the second fabric-side/garment-side hasperforations or apertures or ventilation holes, while the firstfabric-side/garment-side lacks any such perforations or apertures orventilation holes; or, (G) the first fabric-side/garment-side hasperforations or apertures or ventilation holes, while the secondfabric-side/garment-side also has any such perforations or apertures orventilation holes; or, (H) the first fabric-side/garment-side lacks anyperforations or apertures or ventilation holes, while the secondfabric-side/garment-side also lacks any such perforations or aperturesor ventilation holes. In some embodiments, the different properties orcharacteristics of the first fabric-side/garment-side relative to thesecond fabric-side/garment-side, or vice versa, may be achieve by one ormore suitable production methods; for example, (i) by brushing orcoating or spraying only one of the two sides, and not the other side,of the fabric-region/garment-region, with a particular coating layer oragent or material; and/or (ii) by performing paste deposition orthree-dimensional printing deposition or other type of additive process,only on (or at) one of the two sides, and not on (or at) the other side,of the fabric-region/garment-region; and/or (iii) by carefully soakingor wetting or dipping, only one of the two sides of thefabric-region/garment-region, with or within a particular solution oragent or material (for example, the entire thickness of thefabric-region/garment-region is 5 millimeters; and only the first twomillimeters of the fabric thickness are soaked or wetted or dipped in(or by) a particular material or agent or solution, wherein thedipping/soaking depth is carefully controlled manually (e.g., with ahuman inspector) and/or via a machine-based process that ensures thatonly some, but not all, of the thickness of the fabric is treated;and/or (iv) by producing or creating or knitting a dual-layer knittedstructure, in which a first side of the knitted structure is a firstlayer of knitted yarns that have the first set of properties, whereas asecond side of the knitted structure is a second layer of knitted yarnsthat have the second set of properties, and wherein (optionally) a thirdlayer of knitted yarns is sandwiched or trapped between the two layers,or where the two layers are glued or bonded to each other back-to-back;and/or (v) by knitting a knitted structure in which, for example, atleast 99 95 or 90 or 80 or 75 percent of the yarns that are facingoutwardly towards a first side of the fabric-region/garment-region havethe first set of properties, while at least 99 95 or 90 or 80 or 75percent of the yarns that are facing outwardly towards a second side ofthe fabric-region/garment-region have the first set of properties, andwherein the two types of yarns may optionally be interwind among them atparticular regions or connection points or connection regions, such thatthe first side of the fabric-region/garment-region has the first set ofproperties since its majority is knitted from the first type of yarns,whereas the second side of the fabric-region/garment-region has thesecond set of properties since its majority is knitted from the secondtype of yarns.

Some embodiments may be implemented by using a machine or an automatedor semi-automatic production line, which may comprise, for example:cutting unit, welding unit, bonding unit, ultrasonic operations unit,gluing unit, conveyor belt, robotic arm, control unit, workstation; aswell as suitable hardware components and/or software components, forexample, processor to execute code, memory unit, storage unit, inputunit (keyboard, mouse, touch-screen), output unit (screen,touch-screen), modems, transceivers or transmitters or receivers,wireless and/or wired communication links and/or transceivers ortransmitters or receivers, power sources, Operating System (OS) andsuitable applications, or the like.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of some embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, theclaims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions,changes, and equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment comprising: a first garment-region,that is formed of cotton and/or polyester, wherein the firstgarment-region has a first level of drying capability; a secondgarment-region, that is formed of fast-drying yarns that comprise atleast 75% cotton, wherein the second garment-region has a second levelof drying capability; wherein the second level of drying capability isgreater than the first level of drying capability, wherein asquared-centimeter of the first garment region, being wet by absorbing Nmilliliters of water, becomes dry within T1 seconds, wherein asquared-centimeter of the second garment region, being wet by absorbingN milliliters of water, becomes dry within T2 seconds, wherein N is apre-defined positive number, wherein T2 is smaller than T1.
 2. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein the second garment-region is formed offast-drying yarns which comprise a first yarn (Yarn A), a second yarn(Yarn B), and a third yarn (Yarn C); wherein the first yarn, which isYarn A, is formed of cotton cellulose and a hydrophobic chemical agent,wherein Yarn A is hydrophobic at least 25% more relative to cottoncellulose that lacks said hydrophobic chemical agent; wherein the secondyarn, which is Yarn B, is a single-thread yarn that is formed of a blendof a first fiber material and a second fiber material; wherein the firstfiber material is cotton cellulose that lacks said hydrophobic chemicalagent; wherein the second fiber material is beechwood cellulose and/oreucalyptus cellulose; wherein said blend comprises at least 90% of thefirst fiber material and not more than 10% of the second fiber material;wherein the third yarn, which is Yarn C, is formed of a long-chainsynthetic polymer comprising at least 85% of segmented polyurethane;wherein Yarn C is capable of stretching, upon application of astretching force thereon, from an original idle length (L) to astretched length of at least 3 times said original idle length (3L). 3.The garment of claim 2, wherein the second garment-region comprises saidfast drying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knitloop has Yarn B and Yarn C looped together around Yarn A.
 4. The garmentof claim 2, wherein the second garment-region comprises said fast dryingyarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knit loop hasYarn A and Yarn C looped together around Yarn B.
 5. The garment of claim2, wherein the second garment-region comprises said fast drying yarns inaccordance with a knit structure in which each knit loop has: Yarn A andYarn C, looped together around Yarn B and Yarn C2; wherein Yarn C2 isidentical to Yarn C.
 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein Yarn A is asuper-hydrophobic cotton yarn having a water Contact Angle (CA) of atleast 155 degrees.
 7. The garment of claim 1, wherein Yarn A is asuper-hydrophobic cotton yarn which comprises silica particles and whichhas dual-scale surface roughness.
 8. The garment of claim 1, whereinYarn A is a super-hydrophobic cotton yarn which comprisespolydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein Yarn Ais hydrophobic at least 50% more relative to cotton cellulose that lackssaid hydrophobic chemical agent.
 10. The garment of claim 1, whereinYarn A is formed of (i) cotton cellulose and (ii) said hydrophobicchemical agent and also (iii) an oleophobic oil-repellant chemicalagent.
 11. The garment of claim 2, wherein the second garment-regioncomprises said fast drying yarns in accordance with a knit structure inwhich each knit loop has Yarn B and Yarn C looped together around YarnA; wherein the second garment-region has a total number of yarns;wherein 50 percent of the total number of yarns of the secondgarment-region are Yarn A; wherein 50 percent of the total number ofyarns of the second garment-region are Yarn B and Yarn C.
 12. Thegarment of claim 2, wherein the second garment-region comprises saidfast drying yarns in accordance with a knit structure in which each knitloop has Yarn A and Yarn C looped together around Yarn B; wherein thesecond garment-region has a total number of yarns; wherein 50 percent ofthe total number of yarns of the second garment-region are Yarn B;wherein 50 percent of the total number of yarns of the secondgarment-region are Yarn A and Yarn C.
 13. The garment of claim 2,wherein the second garment-region comprises said fast drying yarns inaccordance with a knit structure in which each knit loop has: Yarn A andYarn C, looped together around Yarn B and Yarn C2; wherein Yarn C2 isidentical to Yarn C; wherein the second garment-region has a totalnumber of yarns; wherein 50 percent of the total number of yarns of thesecond garment-region are Yarn A and Yarn C; wherein 50 percent of thetotal number of yarns of the second garment-region are Yarn B and YarnC2.
 14. The garment of claim 13, wherein Yarn C and/or Yarn C2 areincorporated into the second garment-region as non-knitted inlaid yarns.15. The garment of claim 1, wherein said second garment-region is asingle-layer knitted fabric which has a unified level of hydrophobicityacross an entirety of said single-layer knitted fabric; wherein saidsecond garment-region is not formed of two or more fabric-layers havinga root fabric layer that transports wetness towards one or more branchesfabric layers.
 16. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is ashirt; wherein the second garment-region is a region selected from thegroup consisting of: a garment-region beneath a left-side armpit, agarment-region below a right-side armpit, an elongated garment-regionthat is a generally vertical column that starts at a rear side of acollar of the shirt and ends at a lower-central region of a back side ofthe shirt.
 17. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a garmentselected from the group consisting of: long pants, leggings, tights,training pants, yoga pants; wherein the second garment-region is aregion that covers a rear side of a knee of a wearer.
 18. The garment ofclaim 1, wherein the garment is a garment selected from the groupconsisting of: underwear, briefs; wherein the second garment-region is aregion that covers a crotch area of a wearer.
 19. The garment of claim1, wherein the garment is a sock; wherein the second garment-region is aregion selected from the group consisting of: a garment-region thatcovers toes of a wearer, a garment-region that covers a heel of thewearer, a garment-region that is beneath a foot arch of the wearer. 20.The garment of claim 1, (a) wherein said garment-region has (i) aninwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing inwardly towards abody of a wearer, and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended tobe facing outwardly away from the body of the wearer; (b) wherein afirst side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophobic agents; (c)wherein a second side selected from the group consisting of: theinwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarns thatare pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophobic agent.21. The garment of claim 1, (a) wherein said garment-region has (i) aninwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing inwardly towards abody of a wearer, and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended tobe facing outwardly away from the body of the wearer; (b) wherein afirst side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophilic agents; (c)wherein a second side selected from the group consisting of: theinwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarns thatare pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophilic agent.22. The garment of claim 1, (a) wherein said garment-region has (i) aninwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing inwardly towards abody of a wearer, and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that is intended tobe facing outwardly away from the body of the wearer; (b) wherein afirst side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophilic agents; (c)wherein a second side selected from the group consisting of: theinwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns thatare pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophobicagents.
 23. The garment of claim 1, (a) wherein said garment-region has(i) an inwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing inwardlytowards a body of a wearer, and (ii) an outwardly-facing side that isintended to be facing outwardly away from the body of the wearer; (b)wherein a first side selected from the group consisting of: theinwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, comprises yarns thatare pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with one or more hydrophobicagents, and comprises a non-perforated knitting structure; (c) wherein asecond side selected from the group consisting of: the inwardly-facingside, the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarns that are pre-treated orpre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophobic agent, and comprises aperforated knitting structure.
 24. The garment of claim 1, (a) whereinsaid garment-region has (i) an inwardly-facing side that is intended tobe facing inwardly towards a body of a wearer, and (ii) anoutwardly-facing side that is intended to be facing outwardly away fromthe body of the wearer; (b) wherein a first side selected from the groupconsisting of: the inwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side,comprises yarns that are pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated withone or more hydrophilic agents, and comprises a non-perforated knittingstructure; (c) wherein a second side selected from the group consistingof: the inwardly-facing side, the outwardly-facing side, lacks any yarnsthat are pre-treated or pre-soaked or pre-coated with any hydrophilicagent, and comprises a perforated knitting structure.